Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-01-22
QUITE OFF HIS BASE.
Unusual Ideas Entertained by an Old Ohio
River Captain.

Ahh'ss Ssfsoshs
A Louisville, Ky., correspondent OF
the st. Louis Globe-DeDocrat writes:
John X. Fowler, an old steam boat man
who WAS know u from the source to
the mouth of the Ohio. died on last
Monday evening at his home in Q lit
tie shanty boat, on Elm, between
Shelby and Campbell streets. The
circumstances surrounding his death
were very remarkable. FoE several
wears past the old man, with no other
com panion than his wife, lived in the
5oat, which had been beached on the
commons. In the height orhood are
still many other such habitai ions. MIR.
Fowler was a spiritualist, rs is also his
wife. They gave seances, and the
whole populace of the little settlement
became firm believers in the faith.
Being tolerably well off, and very
aIitable, they were held in high es.
TEEN by the poor people Of the Point.
Previous 10 taking up their residence
on the river, the Fowlers kept saloon
on Jefferson street. near Preston, and
made great deal Of money. Then
they Oegan dabbling In spiritualism,
and sold out their business. Mr..
Fowler purchased the steamer Little
Fairy, and became q trader. He grew
old, and few years ago settled on the
point.
The strange part OF the story dat,
back to the summer of 1855. Mrs
Fowler had been sick several day q
One evening she called her husban,
70 her bedside and told him she woulC
soon fall into trance-like state, close
ly resembling death; she would no
die, however, and her husband mus
stay by her bedside and admit no one
A few moments afterward her breatl
grew short. and she had apparentl,
Joined the silent majority.
For twelve hours her husbaD,
watched fearfully by her bedside. A
the end Of that time her body grew
warm, and signs Of life became mani
fest. Sue grew better and finally re
covered. Upon awakening from th'
death-like sleep she told a wonderful
story of heaven, which she said sb'
visited, and gave glowing descript
ion of the life beyond the grave. The
old man listened eagerly, and calling
in his neighpors told them Of his wife''
startling revelations. They all be
lieved il, and do so TO this day.
About two weeks ago Mr., Fowler
became i'll, and daily grew worse. Or
last Saturday morning he arose from
his bed, and kneeling down, Offered
up a prayer that his life might b'
spared a little longer. While In TIM
position he was afflicted with paraly
sis and his wife lifted him back int
bed.
approaching. He called his wife Il
him and said he felt that he was abou
10 leave this earth, perhaps for a shor
time aud maybe forever. He was In
clined to believe, however, that !
wodld simply be trance, and mad
his wife promise that In case he seeme'
10 die she would keep his body 70
three days before making the fac
known. At the end of that time,
he did not recover CONSCIOUSNESS, b
would certainly be dead.
Al 10 O'Clock Monday night he kiss
ed her affectionately, and fell bacI
upon the bed corpse. Mrs. Fowle
then undressed and retired to sleep q
usual. The next day she spent q
prayer and communion with IN
spirits. On Tuesday night sbe agail
lay down to sleep beside the dead bod.
Of her husband. When Wednesda.
morning came she sent for DIR. New
man and Coroner Miller, who examin